Full humanitarian access to all conflict-affected areas in Yemen is urgent, say S&Ds

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Today, the European Parliament adopted a resolution on the situation in Yemen, expressing grave concern at the alarming deterioration in the humanitarian situation.

S&D vice-president Victor Boștinaru MEP said:

"In Yemen, one the poorest countries in the world, civilians are being killed by bombs from one of the richest countries in the world, Saudi Arabia. While we seem to be turning a blind eye and while some are shamefully choosing sides, Saudi Arabia and Iran are turning Yemen into a land of chaos and misery. This is a terrible man-made disaster and mostly a result of a wider conflict between these two countries, a conflict that can also affect the whole Middle East region and beyond.

"It is difficult to describe the severe humanitarian crisis and human tragedy going on in Yemen – famine, malnutrition, cholera outbreaks and death. The most important thing today is to call for an immediate lift of the blockade, including in the opposition-held areas, to allow humanitarian aid access and a rapid return to a UN-facilitated negotiation process.

"Impunity cannot be accepted – not in Yemen or in any other place – the breaches of humanitarian law and war crimes have to be investigated and prosecuted. I hope the complaint submitted to the ICC on Monday will rapidly allow the launch of an investigation."

S&D vice-president Elena Valenciano MEP said:

"The critical humanitarian situation that Yemen continues to endure is an enormous failure of the international community, which is not investing the necessary efforts to bring the sides back to negotiations. The only way out is a political, inclusive and negotiated solution to the conflict.

"Once again the Parliament expresses a strong message calling for everyone to live up to their responsibilities in promoting and preserving the respect of international humanitarian law. We reiterate our call for an initiative on an EU arms embargo against Saudi Arabia in line with strict application of the Council Common Position 2008/944/CFSP. We need to shut off the flow of weapons to this conflict, which is bleeding out a whole country, and instead open channels for the urgently needed humanitarian aid."